Chemical enrichment of soils at archaeological sites : some Oregon case studies

Auteur :
Mc DOWELL, P. F.

Description :
Soil samples from six sites were analyzed for pH and total P, Ca, Mg, K, Na, Fe, and Mn. P is the most widely used chemical indicator of prehistoric human occupancy of a site, but other elements help in interpreting specific archaeological features within a site. Soil enrichment in P varies with the intensity of prehistoric occupancy of a site. Use of multiple elements allows identification of non-bone waste areas, waste areas with bone, burials with bone which are not waste areas, and non cultural features such as natural charcoal concentrations. Vertical profiles are chemically stratified at 10 cm levels, and stratification is closely related to archaeological features.


Type de document :
Article de périodique

Source :
Physical geography, issn : 0272-3646, 1988, vol. 9, n°. 3, p. 247-262, Références bibliographiques : 23 réf.

Date :
1988

Editeur :
Pays édition : Royaume-Uni, Abingdon, Taylor and Francis